Chapter 129: Flying Flower City, Rota's Past

Chapter 129: Flowerfall City, and the Past of Lota

Flowerfall City lies at the border between the Kingdom of Machil and the Kingdom of Nanze.

Nestled within the Wind’s Plain, where spring lingers eternal,

it teems with birdsong and fragrance, encircled by blossoms—

hailed as the City of Flowers, a jewel among cities.

On the fifteenth day of July each year comes the Festival of Flying Petals.

On this day, ten thousand blooms burst forth in unison,

and the entire city drowns in a sea of flowers—

its most enchanting moment of the year.

The Mage Association chose this renowned city to host its annual gathering of mages,

drawing sorcerers from distant lands to exchange knowledge and art.

Li Wei, Gu Ze, and Lota—

after departing Maple City—boarded a carriage and journeyed southward.

Gu Ze sat across from Li Wei and said, “From Maple City to Flowerfall City should take one full day and night.”

“If nothing unforeseen occurs, we’ll arrive by noon tomorrow.”

Li Wei replied, “I hope our journey remains smooth.”

He drew back the curtain and gazed outside.

Trees streamed backward beyond the glass; nearby, horsemen flanked the caravan like silent sentinels.

They had joined a merchant convoy heading south, bound for Flowerfall City.

Li Wei withdrew his gaze, closed his eyes, and sank into meditation.

Lota leaned against the carriage wall, half-reclining, asleep—catching up on lost rest.

Gu Ze had long since shut his eyes, deep in cultivation.

When Li Wei felt sufficiently replenished, he ceased his practice.

Out in the wild, one must never exhaust all mental strength—

to do so would leave one defenseless in sudden peril.

In his mind, he whispered, “Shadow Attendant, wake me if danger arises.”

Then, he cast the *Great Dream Soaring Technique*, slipping into the realm of dreams.

Within that dream world, he labored fiercely at the Illusory Form Art.

The day passed without incident. The Shadow Attendant did not call him.

Li Wei awoke of his own accord as dusk settled.

Night had not yet thickened; the caravan still rolled forward beneath dimming skies.

He ate a simple ration, stepped out briefly to relieve himself, then returned to the carriage—

and plunged once more into the relentless forging of illusion.

Gu Ze glanced at him and said, “You truly can sleep—since morning until now.”

Li Wei smiled faintly. “This is conserving energy.”

Lota had already woken. From his pocket, he drew a small spray bottle and began tending to his hair.

He smoothed the tangled, unkempt mass, straightened his collar and mage’s robe.

Instantly, his aura transformed.

No longer the disheveled researcher, but a composed, mature mage—

radiating reliability and erudition.

Lota nervously rubbed his hands together. “I wonder… is Evelyn still in Flowerfall City?”

Li Wei turned, puzzled. “Who is Evelyn?”

Gu Ze chuckled. “An old acquaintance of Magus Lota—an enchantress of Flowerfall City.”

Ah. Now Li Wei understood.

Lota was rushing to meet a lover.

No wonder he had groomed himself so carefully.

Gu Ze looked at Lota. “I heard you were once from Flowerfall City. Why did you go to Maple City?”

Lota glanced at both of them, slightly embarrassed. “Back then, I didn’t think I’d ever break through to become a true mage. I had no face to stay.”

Suddenly, he brightened, laughing. “Once, I was hailed as a prodigy at Flowerfall’s Mage Academy. Alas…”

He shook his head, leaving the rest unsaid.

Li Wei studied him with quiet curiosity. He hadn’t expected such a past.

It sounded like the fall of a genius.

Yet, upon reflection, Lota’s talent was undeniable.

Otherwise, how could he have mastered every zero-tier spell in Maple City’s Tower?

Li Wei had entered Lota’s dreams—he knew the man wielded at least two or three dozen spells.

Few even among true mages could match that breadth.

What tragedy had dulled such brilliance?

A thought struck him. Curious, Li Wei asked, “Magus Lota, may I ask—how old are you?”

Lota paused, calculating silently. “Thirty-five this year.”

Then he raised his face to the sky, sighing. “Nearly twenty years gone… time flows faster than I knew.”

Li Wei was surprised. Lota was younger than he’d imagined.

When they first met, he’d guessed him to be forty or fifty—his face bore premature lines.

Gu Ze was twenty-six.

Li Wei, only sixteen.

Sixteen—that had been Lota’s golden age, when pride burned bright.

By twenty-six, he had believed his life’s path sealed—no breakthrough possible.

Becoming a Ring Mage was an option, but not one he chose.

Li Wei asked, “Is your home in Flowerfall City?”

Lota nodded. “Yes. But I haven’t returned in over a decade.”

“Eighteen years ago, after my parents passed, I left that family behind and came alone to Maple City.”

“The only soul from Flowerfall City I still carry in my heart is Evelyn. I will never forget her.”

Li Wei sensed a love story etched deep in sorrow and memory.

They spoke a while longer, until touching upon topics Lota would not voice—

then silence crept back into the carriage, soft and complete.

Li Wei closed his eyes, appearing to sleep.

But in truth, within dreams, he toiled with sweat far beyond any ordinary man’s measure.

At midnight, the Shadow Attendant stirred him awake.

Li Wei opened his eyes and saw the caravan had stopped to rest.

He looked up—the crescent moon in the sky was half-hidden behind dark clouds.

Unconcerned, he closed his eyes again and slipped back into his dream, tirelessly grinding through illusions.

"Shadow Attendant, unless there's danger threatening me, don't wake me."

Deep into the night, clouds drifted, completely veiling the crescent moon.

Darkness cloaked the land, wind howled through the trees.

Green light flickered within the forest—chaos erupted, then all fell still once more.

When Li Wei awoke the next morning, he found several processed magical beast corpses discarded beside the caravan.

Before dawn broke, the convoy hurriedly set off again.

Li Wei lifted his head for a sip of water—above him, the ornate patterns on the carriage ceiling twisted, forming lines of script.

He glanced briefly; the characters dissolved like mist, as if an illusion.

[Phantom Form Technique (Tier 0)] 6233/10000

After a full day and night of relentless cultivation, his proficiency in the technique had surged rapidly.

"Before the Youth Mage Exchange Competition, I should be able to advance Phantom Form to Tier One."

Li Wei felt anticipation stir—he wondered what effects the first tier would bring.

Beyond the forest stretched an endless emerald prairie.

Li Wei pushed open the window; wind carrying the scent of grass rushed in, cleansing the stale air inside.

Gu Ze glanced outside and said, "We've reached Wind’s Plain."

"Chirp!"

A piercing cry echoed from high above.

Li Wei looked up—several massive silhouettes soared across the sky.

Below, enormous bovine magical beasts roamed the distant plains.

The magical creatures of Wind’s Plain seemed plentiful.

Mostly because the terrain was flat and open, offering wide visibility.

With no place for beasts to hide, it gave the impression they were everywhere.

Luo Ta gazed out, a trace of nostalgia in his eyes.

"Now that we’re in Wind’s Plain," he said, "Flowerfall City isn’t far."

At noon, the sun blazed overhead.

At last, Li Wei beheld Flowerfall City, nestled among boundless blossoms.

The carriage rolled along roads lined with flowers; waves of fragrance drifted in, accompanied now and then by bees and small birds fluttering near the windows.

"Good thing I’m not allergic to pollen."

(End of Chapter)